Not every fence cleans the same way. The material determines the method. And using the wrong method on the wrong material can cause damage ranging from cosmetic to permanent.
How Vinyl Fence Cleaning Works
Vinyl fencing is non-porous. Biological growth sits on the surface rather than penetrating into the material. The challenge with vinyl is pressure sensitivity. Vinyl fence panels crack under high pressure. Post caps blow off. Sections can deform when struck by a high-pressure stream at close range.
A soft wash approach — low-pressure application of a cleaning solution formulated for vinyl surfaces, adequate dwell time, and a gentle rinse — achieves both goals. The solution kills the biological growth chemically. The rinse removes it without applying the pressure that would damage the panels.
How Wood Fence Cleaning Works
Wood fencing is porous. Biological growth on wood penetrates the wood fibers and establishes itself within the material. Surface pressure alone does not remove it.
Wood fence cleaning requires a cleaning solution that penetrates the wood fibers and treats the biological growth within the material. The solution is applied at low pressure, allowed to dwell, and then rinsed at a carefully managed pressure that cleans effectively without raising the wood grain.
Raised grain is the primary risk when cleaning wood fencing incorrectly. High pressure on wood fibers causes them to swell and rise above the surface. Once wood grain is raised by excessive pressure, it does not lie back down.
Where Vinyl and Wood Cleaning Are the Same
Both materials benefit from professional cleaning for the same fundamental reason. Biological growth holds moisture against the material and accelerates deterioration over time. Both are damaged by the wrong cleaning method.
For professional fence cleaning in Northumberland, PA, that uses the right method for your specific fence material, Kleen-N-Brite assesses the material first and applies the appropriate solution and pressure for the job.
